Biography

American actor, an imposing character and lead player on stage, screen and TV. From his Broadway debut in 1957, he was seen in many stage productions, impressively as "Othello" and "The Emperor Jones," both in 1964.

The son of a prizefighter-turned-actor, he was raised by his maternal grandmother on a Michigan farm. He entered the University of Michigan planning to study medicine but switched to drama. After a stint in the army he enrolled at New York drama school. He worked with his dad waxing floors while pursuing his goal.

On Broadway, Jones won a Tony award for "The Great White Hope," 1966-68. He performed in TV shows before his film debut in 1964. Repeating his role in the film version of "White Hope," Jones was nominated for an Oscar, and in 1972 he portrayed the first American black president in "The Man."

As a kid, Jones had to struggle with a stutter. He says he rarely spoke between the ages of 4 1/2 and 14 because of it. A professor caught him writing poety convinced Jones that reciting his poems loud would be helpful. Jones began to appreciate the sound of words and became interested in acting. Despite the disapproval of his mother who remembered too well that his father had left the family to pursue acting as well, Jones pursued his theatrical career. He learned much of his exquisite diction by practicing speech with marbles in his mouth. With his rich, deep rumbling voice, he was memorable in the masked role of Darth Vader in "Star Wars," 1977 and its sequels. In 1986, he was awarded another Tony for Broadway's "Fences."

Jones married and divorces actress Julienne Marie with a second marriage to Cecelia.

Source Notes

Frank C. Clifford quotes his autobiography written with Penelope Niven, "Voices and Silences," Scribners 1993. (Note: older versions of AstoDatabank listed the 11th of January in error; the 17th is correct).